Selemon Barega is making his marathon debut this weekend in Seville - what are you expecting?

I would expect a 2:05ish performance. Solid for a debut.

2:00:26

2:02.37

Barega's Personal Best's nearly the same as Grant Fisher

Grant Fisher

3000- 7:22

5000- 12:44

10000- 26:43

Barega

3000-7:25

5000- 12:43

10000-26:44

So basically whatever Barega Runs we can expect a similar result When/If Fisher runs one.

I have seen this picture of Berega hanging on the wall near the track coach's office. Berega is done with his race, giving a prayer, and 2nd place isn't even in sight yet.

He is a beast. I hope he crushes it in Seville! - 2:04 high?

Open image

The 10000 SHOULD be 26:33 for Fisher, 26:34 for Barega

Sorry about the Typo

Both have run 10s faster at 10,000 to be exact. I’d expect Barega runs 2:04ish, though it’s hard to know since his last race Valencia, an underwhelming 58:57.

At best, he wins the race in 2:03-high. Knowing nothing about the quality of his build-up, I'd set his floor at 2 min quicker than Chep's debut.

You keep telling yourself that.

Sub-2. Definitely Sub-2.

I'm thinking he could challenge Deresa Geleta's course record of 2:03:27, but its hard to say. To be fair he fell in that HM but had already been dropped by the top 3.

I wonder if him signing with Li-Ning means a permanent switch to the roads. As far as I'm aware they don't make spikes or at least have many/any track athletes signed.

2:05 at best. He's too antsy. In track 10,000s he can't just chill out. That's fine there and in a sub-60 half, but won't work in the marathon unless he's learned to stay steady until 30K.

It would seem like pretty shrewd timing, if so. Ran his best time at any track distance back in 2018 and won Olympic gold in 2021; last year, he was a well-beaten 3rd at the Ethiopian Trials, with the young up-and-comer Biniam Mehary not far behind, and only 7th in Paris. It’s entirely possible he could snag a medal on the track again, but if he has any real aptitude for the marathon it’s wiser to move up while he’s still got many good years left (and his appearance fee hasn’t depreciated) rather than hang around on the track too long, hoping to reclaim glory but more likely finishing 5th+/-.

I would put the over/under on his debut at 2:04:30.

I missed that he ran valencia half. How is this course? Really hoping he can break the course record

tell him what

Tell him WHAT?!!!!?!!

I'm expecting Barega to no longer be a 10,000 gold medal contender this September in Tokyo.

A medal contender? Sure, like Hassan in Paris.

But marathon training will dull his final lap kick.

Presuming, of course, Selemon even returns to the track.

Rojo, to paraphrase your favorite aphorism, "this is good news for Grant Fisher."

Frankly, with Cheptegei now a marathoner, Barega & Kiplimo soon-to-be marathoners, Kejelcha running half-marathons & other road races, and Aregawi running his first half-marathon next month, looking more-and-more like track-focused Grant will be the Tokyo WC pre-race 10,000 favorite.

Why is his floor 2 minutes quicker (not a small amount!) than Cheptegei, who has had a stronger career in the 10k?

Because Cheptegei blew up running 60-61 on the way to 2:08, trying to run with the top pack. I don’t think Barega has the same pressure at Sevilla and probably can dictate the pacers